What Kat Ate (#15)! + Music I’ve Been Enjoying!

Hey My Gorgeous Readers!

Thanks for your comments on my post on some of my favorite protein-rich breakfasts. I’ve had fun in the kitchen these past years and I am always excited to share a recipe with you. I haven’t had much time or energy to do much experimenting recently, but in a few weeks I should have some more time on my hands for some fun.

Time for another What Kat Ate (#15)!

Thanks Jenn for hosting this party! I always enjoy joining the fun!

BREAKFAST:

1/3 cup oat bran with 2 tbsp ground flaxseed, 1 tsp cinnamon, and a chopped apple stirred in. Alongside this delight I had 1 full egg + 2 egg whites cooked with no-salt seasoning (the organic kind from Costco) and a little seasoned salt. (I’m not to the point where I can eat 2 full eggs making it myself, as I used to view them as danger foods, but I’m taking it one step at a time.)

LUNCH:

I have to take my own food to my job, so this time I took an apple (or nectarine – I really like those too), ¼ cup almonds, and 1/3 cup soynuts. (I don’t always bring such a boring lunch – the one I brought today involved chickpeas and almond butter and such. But they always have to be something that can last out of a fridge until lunch, since I leave early in the morning to get over there.)

SNACK:

When I get home from my job, I usually am starving and grab a snack. This time I had myself a big delicious bowl of my Cacao Pecan Pumpkin Ice Cream. I absolutely ADORED the crunch the cacao nibs added to the bowl – and they are also high in fiber and include healthy fats for my skin, hair, and nails. Win-win situation.

DINNER:

A Morningstar Chik’n Breast Patty (x2) cut into strips (they are just more fun to eat that way for some reason ) alongside a juicy pear and 3-4 large stalks of celery sliced and frosted with peanut buttah. <3 (This was one of the nights that we fended for ourselves for dinner, if you get what I mean.)

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I have been obsessing over YouTube music videos/songs this summer. I’ve found a few that I thought you might enjoy.

• This is an “Piano Solo for the Pirates of the Caribbean“ – I wish I can play like that some day. One day.
  
• I love One Direction’s song “What Makes You Beautiful” (click here for the original version by One Direction) , so when my friend told me about this version by PianoGuys– it involves 5 Piano Guys and 1 Piano, and I just HAD to check it out. I was stunned. What a beautiful rendition of it.
• “Cowboys and Angels“ by Dustin Lynch
  
• “God Gave Me You“ by Blake Shelton (This is how I feel for my family and my friends – and for you guys! Thank you ALL SO much for always being there for me!)
  
• “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful“ by Kelly Pickler
  
• “Little Moments“ by Brad Paisley (I think this song is just very cute. )
  
• “Give Your Heart A Break“ by Demi Levato (I’m so glad that Demi is turning her life around after having gone through struggles with body image and an eating disorder. It’s so good to see her back in the scene as strong as ever. )
  
• “Footloose“ by Blake Shelton (This one just makes me want to jump up and dance!!, especially since I know a line dance to it!)
  
• “The Trouble With Girls“ by Scotty McCreery
  
• “One Step At A Time“ by Jordin Sparks (I love how this song talks about how life is something we have to take one step at a time. Just like how I mentioned above about how I can’t have 2 full eggs yet — sometimes you just have to take it one step at a time.)
  

Go check them out when you have some free time – they are some of my FAVORITES! <3

I’m going to go do some weights now and finish up a reading assignment for my scripture study class tomorrow night, so I’ll talk with you soon! Thanks for always being there for me!

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Favorite food pictured? I’m really loving my cacao pecan pumpkin soft serve right now – it is SO good and good for you!

What are some of your favorite portable foods to take with you for jobs? I’d love some variety for things to take, but it seems like I’ve run dry of ideas. What are your thoughts??

What are some of the songs you are loving right now? Please feel free to link up some of your favorites in the comments below!

xoxox,

AP Results! + What Kat Ate #13: The Cake & Ice Cream Edition!

Hey my Lil’ Cuties!

Thanks for all of your comments on my Easy Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars. They are definitely one of my favorites to make and take to parties if I don’t have the time to make something from scratch. And they are a hit wherever I go!

Time for another What Kat Ate! Thanks, Jenn, for hosting this party! It is always so much fun! <3

BREAKFAST:

One of my Chocolate Protein Cakes frosted with homemade almond butter and sprinkled with cacao nibs, all alongside some banana softserve. Hehe. Who says you can’t have cake and ice cream for breakfast?

LUNCH:

A fillet of tilapia topped with seasoned salt alongside a juicy peach and a side of spinach with smart balance lite buttery spread.

SNACK:

A handful of each almonds and soynuts.

DINNER:

A bowl of vegetarian chili and a pear. (Pears have been one of my favorites since I was a baby!)

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Yesterday morning I received a letter from the AP testing center with the results of my AP Physics and AP Literature tests. And you know what? I PASSED!!!! BOTH of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited right now. (I actually got the exact scores I was expecting to get on both of them; after I took them, I got a feeling of the scores I would get. It was kind of weird, but I guess that confirms how I felt. I knew I had put in the time and effort to learn and study for these exams, and I went forward and did my best.) I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father. He has always been there for me. He has never given up on me. He knows my potential and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Sometimes hardships arise, but I know He will be there for me and support me through them and give me strength to bear them. I know it is because of him that I was able to remember the things I learned during my preparation for these tests. I know He lives. I know He knows my by name. I know He loves me and that He wants me to become like him. He knows all of the rules (and exceptions ) of the English language and I knew I could turn to Him if I ever needed help with them. He is the Great Scientist. I am so grateful for the understanding He has given me of physics. He knows it all like the back of his hand, and I am grateful for everything He has done for me.

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Would you ever have cake and ice cream for breakfast? I did it as a little celebration for passing my AP tests, and I know I will be doing it again soon.

Have there been certain foods that you’ve loved since childhood? One of those foods for me is pears. I have ALWAYS adored it. And hummus – hummus is another one that I’ve loved since I lived in Turkey at the age of 3.

Did you take an AP test? SAT or ACT? A big final exam/test for certification in something you’re going into? I just took two AP tests this past May and just heard about my results yesterday. Another test that will be coming up soon (hopefully) with be my driver’s test.

xoxox,

Some Things Can Be Deceiving.

Hey My Fruit Loops!

Thank you for all of your comments on my last post — my Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal. I love it SOOOOO much and haven’t wanted anything else besides that for the past couple of weeks for breakfast. When I wake up, that is what I want. At least I am listening to my body. I’m thinking that waffles may be in my near future, but they will have to be for a morning where I have the time to make them. I have been so busy with school starting again — I just don’t have the time in the morning. And with my early morning youth religion class starting this Monday, I really need to get to bed earlier. That part hasn’t really happened much, but I’m adapting my body right now to waking up earlier. I’m doing 6am this week, and next week, HELLO 5 o’clock). I have considered waking up at 4 am so I can be REALLY awake for my class, but I don’t know. I’ll have to see what my body says.

Here are a couple of things I’ve learned over the past few weeks.

Little sisters grow up just as fast as you do.

My sister and I got ready for her first dance! This one was one of the dances our church holds. She asked me to curl her hair for this special occasion, so I used my flat iron and that did the trick! She really enjoyed the dance and so did I.

Elizabeth had so much fun at her birthday party. We played games, had pizza, cake, and ice cream, and just had a blast. And yes, I had regular pizza (though the one I got was a Kashi) and ice cream — I’m more of an ice cream person than cake. Cake just didn’t sound good, but the ice cream did. So I had some. The flavor I picked was Banana Nut. With all of the Bananas with Nut Buttah I eat, no one was surprised. And I’m sure none of you are either.

Oh, and gifts. What was on of her favorite gifts?

Fruity Pebbles.

Haha, some things never change.

Frozen Fruit is AMAZING in the summer.

Especially since it is hot outside and these keep me nice and cool. A Frozen Strawberry Banana Bowl topped with my Vanilla Spice Almond Buttah. Frozen Bananas and Frozen Strawberries are some of my favorites!!!

Some things can be deceiving.

Let’s take this watermelon as an example.

What it is? Is it even a watermelon at all?

Well, it makes for nice ears!

Hehe, I must have had a growth spurt.

Cantaloupes are more closely related to squashes than watermelons!

This is a volunteer cantaloupe plant that grew in our backyard. Look at how cute he is!

He looks more like a squash than a waterMELON to me!

And that has been a couple of the things I’ve learned throughout the past weeks. This week has been a lot of fun, too. Some of the places we went to included the Zoo (where I made the special effort to see ALL of the kitties there ), the Witte Museum (and saw the Amazonian Exhibit, though my favorite part was the HEB Treehouse), Subway (so good!), and the Food Bank. I just got home from the Food Bank this afternoon and let me say I’m tired! It was pretty hot in the warehouse and the heat just sucked out all of my energy. But nevertheless, I really enjoy doing service, so this was such a great opportunity to do just that.

What’s your favorite frozen fruit? For me, it’s frozen bananas, strawberries, and grapes!

How do you usually cut your cantaloupes/melons? I usually just do it horizontally, but this once I did it vertically and what a surprise I received!

How early do you wake up in the morning? This summer I have been waking up at 7 am (I found I couldn’t sleep in past 7 or 8 — I would just toss and turn trying to go back to sleep, but knowing I wouldn’t fall back asleep — I just can’t stand doing that, so I just get up) this summer, and that has really messed up my body’s clock, which had been used to 5 o’clock the whole school year. But now, I’m getting my body back on schedule, and it’s feeling good!

xoxox,